Books

Historians agree that the making of modern Sudan began with the Turco-Egyptian conquest of the north in the 1820s. However, this book focuses on the periods from 1898 to 1983 and from 2005 to 2016. It covers the era of condominium rule (1899–1956), the Regional Government in Southern Sudan (1972–1983), and the time following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 up until the renewed outbreak of fighting in South Sudan in July 2016. During the condominium period, the present borders of Sudan were established, and decisions made during this time significantly influenced North-South relations. The book also explores the political awakening of the Southern Sudanese, who, between 1972 and 1983, briefly experienced self-governance. In July 2011, South Sudan became an independent and sovereign state following a referendum in favour of secession. The SPLM, which was the ruling party in the South both before and after independence, is evaluated in the revised Chapter 16. This chapter assesses the party's performance in government from 2005 to 2016. Additionally, the book has been updated with major revisions: Chapter 2 has been rewritten, and the revised Chapter 16 has been renumbered as Chapter 17. Other chapters have also been revised with minor changes. About the Author Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of London (1980) and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science by the University of Juba in 1999. Active in politics since 1965, Dr. Akol led the SPLM/SPLA's clandestine activities from 1983. As a member of the Council of the Khartoum University Teachers Union (KUTU) from 1984 to 1986, he played a key role in organizing and executing the March/April Uprising that led to the fall of the Nimeiri regime in 1985. Following this, he and his colleagues founded the Sudan African Congress (SAC), which won two seats in the Constituent Assembly elections in 1986. In the same year, he joined the field of combat and was appointed an alternate member of the Political-Military High Command of the SPLM/SPLA. He served as Zonal Commander for Northern Upper Nile (1987-1988) and Southern Blue Nile (1990-1991) and held various political and diplomatic roles within the Movement. Dr. Akol was a key figure in the Nasir Declaration of 28 August 1991 and served as Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM-United from 1994 to 2003. His roles also included Minister of Transport (1998-2002), Administrative Supervisor of Western Bahr el-Ghazal State (2005), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005-2007), and a member of the National Assembly representing the SPLM (2005-2009). He has been the Chairman of the National Democratic Movement since 2016. Dr. Akol has authored seven books and has contributed numerous articles to newspapers and journals.